Corinne Bailey Rae | The Love EP
by Brent Faulkner
British singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae exemplifies talent deserving wider recognition. Bailey Rae’s 2006 self-titled debut effort was critically acclaimed and a massive seller in the U.S., propelled by popular, Grammy-nominated singles “Put Your Records On” and “Just Like A Star.”
Elan Trotman | Love and Sax (E.T. Muzik Production)
By Brian Soergel
Saxophonist Elan Trotman is a new star on the smooth jazz world. Although inspired by masters likeGrover Washington, Jr. and Kirk Whalum, his compelling tone and R&B touches mark him as a new force a la Boney James or Euge Groove. Trotman, which the New England Urban Music Awards named best male jazz performer, is a Barbados native educated at Boston’s esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Keiko Matsui | The Road…(Shanachie)
By Brian Soergel
Keiko Matsui is a master on the piano or on her portable Yamaha strapped around her neck. She’s showed her technical skills on her CDs, in shows and especially with some remarkable four-hand piano gigs with Bob James. But Matsui, throughout her distinguished career, hasn’t been concerned about earning bravos for her virtuosity, though she certainly has earned the accolades that do come her way.
Marcus Miller | A Night in Monte-Carlo
By Peggy Oliver
Marcus Miller has worn many musical hats through his established career. Besides being one of the most in-demand studio musicians, especially for Luther Vandross, David Sanborn and Miles Davis, Miller is one of the master bass guitar technicians. From the slap style to gorgeous melodic washes, Miller has furthered the cause for contemporary urban bass players; certainly through the inspirations of other bass greats Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius.
Keke Palmer | Awaken Mixtape
By Peggy Oliver
Keke Palmer started chasing her dream of becoming a double threat entertainer since she was in grade school. And she had the advantage of developing her voice in her mother’s home recording studio. Once the very gifted Palmer (born Lauren Keyana ‘Keke’ Palmer) ventured out to make her dream reality, she went through the motions of various rejections, including her audition being edited out of American Idol’s short-lived spin off series, American Juniors.
J Poww | Journey of A Man
By Susan Mutharia
Before Pathway to the Moon by MN8 and All My Life by KCi & JoJo, there was So In Love by U.N.V…. Remember that ballad? Remember the group? Remember one of the singers, J. Poww? Well, he is back with another solo album entitled Journey Of A Man.
Though it’s been a minute since we heard from the group U.N.V, J Poww has not been silent. In January of 2009, he released his first solo debut The Headliner that featured tracks such as Y Can’t She Be You and Fall In Love All Over Again. Now he is back with his second album Journey Of A Man. Released on December 4, 2010 through Powwer Moves Records LLC., Journey of A Man features twenty R&B tracks with some hip-hop mix. The video of the single I’m Not In Love has already been accepted and added to the video play list by VH1. To continue, Please click “MORE”!
Patti Austin | Sound Advice
By Peggy Oliver
Patti Austin’s extraordinary voice is a songwriter’s sweetest dream. Since she bowed on the stage at The Apollo Theater at age four with her godmother Dinah Washington, Austin was highly destined to be a songwriter’s best friend. Her maturity as a vocalist grew as a teenager touring with the legendary Harry Belafonte.
Steve Cole | Moonlight
By Brian Soergel
Windy City saxophonist Steve Cole, who released his debut CD in 1998, has been a steady force on the smooth jazz charts and touring scene for more than a decade. He’s also a member of the Sax Pack, an in-the-pocket trio with fellow saxophonists Jeff Kashiwa and Kim Waters. His early music got me through some long, long drives on the West Coast.
Alexander Boynton Jr. | Doo Bee Doo Bop By Randy Mahon This extremely talented bassist hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, now residing in Canada, self released a fine 12 song collection of Smooth Jazz numbers that incorporates elements of Latin, R&B, Funk and “Slow Jams”. Every, and I do mean, EVERY, …
Kenneth Whalum III | To Those Who Believe
by Brent Faulkner
Reinvigorating the ‘art’ that IS jazz is a tall, if nearly impossible order for the modern jazz recording artist. With the shoes of ‘untouchable’ legends to fill (Parker, Coltrane, Davis, etc.), it is not that often that the jazz enthusiast discovers a ‘new jazz album’ that truly ‘whets his appetite‘ or better yet serves as a ‘pipeline‘ to the future of jazz. With the recent release of the exceptionally well crafted To Those Who Believe, the future of jazz is clearly BRIGHT.
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